Set R1 of the EMU JR East 205-500 series travels on the Sagami lineThe JR East Sagami line is a local railway route penetrating Kanagawa Prefecture from south to north. Connecting Chigasaki, a Pacific city, and Hashimoto, an interior transportation key junction, its total length is 33.3 kilometers. The entire route is electrified but single track. The electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. 4-car trains named the EMU 205-500 series are operated every 20 minutes on average.
The Sagami line was opened in 1921 by Sagami railway company to transport gravel from the Sagami riverbed to large cities for constructions. The route was nationalized under government control during WWII. It was then privatized again in 1986, when the Japanese National Railway was split into seven companies. As you know, it's currently operated by East Japan railway company (JR East).
On September 28th this year, JR East marked the 100th anniversary of the Sagami line. In commemoration of the 100th anniversary, a memorial plate is displayed on their train, set R1 of the EMU 205-500 series. Set R1 was built as the first set of the EMU 205-500 series by Tokyu-sharyo in 1991. 13 sets, 52 cars, in total of the 205-500 series were built in the same year. Its technical specifications are rather old, but it WAS the sole reliable model on the line. Why "WAS"? It's because a new model was just recently launched on the Sagami line for the first time in 30 years. I'm going to show you it on my next post.
To be continued...
